Story 14 Aug, 2025

Global Plastics Treaty talks hit setback: more than a plastic pollution crisis, latest Chair’s Text draft sparks dismay – yet there is still hope with one day left

IUCN expresses its disappointment in the 13 August 2025 Chair's Text, as it is a significant retreat from what could have been developed from the 1 December Chair’s Text and in negotiations this week in Geneva. As the INC-5.2 negotiations continue toward their final scheduled date, we reiterate that, while the Chair does have the ability to propose new text as an option, it still must be in compliance with the parameters of UNEA Resolution 5/14. In light of this, the Chair's Text of 13 August 2025 has turned the basis of negotiations with the previous Chair’s Text of 1^st December 2024 upside down.

Photo: The Thinker's Burden, by Von Wong Productions, (C) IUCN, Karine Siegwart

A joint statement of Dr Karine Siegwart, Senior Policy Advisor at IUCN's Centre for Policy and Law, and Dr Alexandra Harrington, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law Chair of the WCEL Plastic Pollution Task Force shared their views:

IUCN and IUCN WCEL have analysed the 13 August Chair’s Text, and note that it fails to address primary plastic production limits, omits critical health protections, does not include text on biodiversity and ecosystems protections, dismisses the needs of multiple communities, SIDS, LDCs, Indigenous Peoples and youth, and reduces text from the 1 December Chair’s Text in a manner that is not in compliance with the parameters of UNEA Resolution 5/14. In light of this, the Chair's Text of 13 August 2025 is not understandable or acceptable. What could have become legally binding commitments to move our world forward, has been watered down to largely voluntary national measures across 31 articles.
-Dr Karine Siegwart and Dr Alexandra Harrington

The analysis is here.

The revised text strips away key provisions from the December 2024 draft and fails to include proposals made by many State Members of the INC throughout the negotiation rounds and over the course of the past 9 days of negotiation at INC-5.2. The negotiations represent a critical opportunity to move beyond what seems to have become a "waste management treaty text" toward comprehensive lifecycle regulation of plastic pollution as was mandated by the UNEA in Resolution 5/14.

With one day left in INC5.2 negotiations, IUCN urges negotiators to prioritize future generations, Indigenous Peoples Rights and local communities, workers from informal and formal sectors, and ecosystems in a further text on the last day, following a OneHealth Approach and promoting international cooperation and coordination with other treaty regimes, including the outcomes of the Biodiversity COP 16 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16).

Over three years, the INC process has raised global awareness of plastic pollution and its impacts, while fostering partnerships, action, and hope for multilateral solutions to this universal crisis. IUCN remains optimistic that the 13 August plenary reflections and strong statement from Member States will produce an ambitious treaty text that works for all on 14 August. Together, we are stronger and can move from negotiation to adoption and implementation.

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